Ye Hexiang was complaining, "This kid can't be called anymore." He turned his head and said to Li Cuishi with a smile: "Sister-in-law, sit here." ”

Li Cuishi came back to her senses and laughed at herself in her heart, how could that little one not be a child anymore? Look at what she is thinking? She sat down on the small table next to the bed and asked softly, "Xing'er, is there anything uncomfortable?"

Sitting so close, his eyes also adapted to the dark place, and Li Cuishi saw clearly. With a bamboo-like body, thin yellow hair, and a white and miserable sharp and thin face, she is not the eldest girl of the Zhang family, who was born in the same year as her son Shishi, but looks a few years younger than Zhang Xing.

The little girl sitting in the bed looked at the two adults a few times, didn't speak, only shook her head slowly, looking as stupid and dull as before.

Li Cuishi was relieved, and asked again, "Have you taken the medicine?"

Ye Hexiang's eyes flickered, and she hurriedly smiled and said, "Eat, eat." Last night, she saw that her daughter had woken up, and she expected that there was nothing to do, so she stopped Li Dazhu, who had taken the prescription and was going to grab the medicine, and only said that she didn't dare to bother him about it, and she ignored the money for the medicine. This matter can be big or small, and the money is not much, but if the child's father knows about it, he must ask for some scolding. Thinking of this, Ye Hexiang was afraid that Li Cui's would say this again, so Genno opened the conversation and said, "Sister-in-law hasn't eaten yet, right?"

Li Cuishi hurriedly excused himself and said with a smile: "No, no, it's already done at home." After a few more gossips with Ye Hexiang, it was estimated that it was almost time, and Li Cui's then said goodbye and went home.

Ye Hexiang watched Li Cui's walk away at the door, and hurriedly closed the door to see the basket of things sent by Li Cui's family, put the chicken aside with a smile, and went to count the eggs. The clucking sound of the Luhua chicken caused Zhang Jinbao, the four-year-old son of the Zhang family, to turn over with two small short legs, pointing at the chicken and shouting happily: "Chicken, chicken." ”

Ye Hexiang counted the eggs, picked up her son and kissed her, and said with a smile: "My heart and liver baby, my mother will give you baked eggs to eat today." Zhang Jinbao patted the little fat hand, drooled for a long time, and then said: "Eat eggs, eat eggs." ”

Ye Hexiang called her second daughter Zhang Tao to come and take care of her son Zhang Jinbao, cooked a fire by herself, cooked a pot of brown rice, and the dishes were yesterday's cowpeas, pickled vegetables, and picked up two eggs and scrambled a bowl of leek eggs. Before the leek eggs were put on the plate, she heard her son Zhang Jinbao screaming in the hall.

Ye Hexiang hurriedly went out of the kitchen, but saw that the house was full of chicken feathers, the youngest daughter Zhang Tao hugged her son Zhang Jinbao and did not let him move, Zhang Jinbao stretched out his little fat hand, and shouted at the bald tail Luhua chicken: "Chicken, chicken, mine, my ......"

Most of the Zhuang families are patriarchal, and Ye Hexiang only got the baby pimple of Zhang Jinbao after giving birth to two daughters, and she regarded it as the meat of her heart. Seeing this, he walked over quickly, slapped his daughter on the head, and scolded: "It's really been in vain that I have eaten for so many years, and I can't even do this little thing." He snatched Zhang Jinbao again, and said coaxing.

Zhang Tao pursed her mouth, and there were tears in her big eyes, but she didn't dare to fall. However, Ye Hexiang was most tired of seeing her daughter like this, hugged her son with one hand, and pulled her daughter's ear with the other, and scolded: "Your mother is not dead, are you sad?"

Zhang Tao shuddered, accidentally scared the tears in his eyes, hurriedly turned his sleeves away, and stood aggrieved. Ye Hexiang carried her son into the kitchen, went to the door, turned around again, twisted her eyebrows, and said, "Why don't you stand and die, don't you come in to eat?"

Zhang Tao hurriedly went in, Ye Hexiang made a bowl of rice, plucked some cowpea pickles, and put a small piece of leek egg on top, and handed the bowl to Zhang Tao: "Go, bring it to your sister." ”

Zhang Tao stared at the egg on the top of the rice bowl, swallowed his saliva, held the rice bowl with both hands and carefully went to the back room.

The back room was dark and silent, and Zhang Xing was still sitting in the previous position. Zhang Tao handed over the rice bowl, "Sister, eat." ”

Zhang Xing took it, but she was stunned and didn't eat it. Zhang Tao swallowed her saliva, pointed to the eggs in the bowl, and said, "Sister, you eat quickly, look, there are also leek eggs." "The Zhang family has little land, Ye Hexiang is a flower shelf, it is useless, laziness is famous in the whole village, the whole family relies on Zhang Shuisheng to rent a boat and ferry at the pier to maintain the family, except for the New Year's holiday, there are almost no eggs on the table, Zhang Tao has not remembered how long he has not eaten eggs.

Zhang Xing looked up at Zhang Tao, and suddenly picked up the small piece of leek egg and handed it to her sister Zhang Tao's mouth. Zhang Tao was only seven years old, so how could he bear such a temptation in front of him? Zhang Xing looked at her sister gobbling up, looked down at the bowl in her hand mixed with chaff husks, and fell silent again. Zhang Tao felt that today's sister Zhang Xing seemed to be different from the past, but what was the difference, but she couldn't say why, she said while chewing: "Sister, why don't you eat?"

Zhang Xing looked at the rice mixed with rice husk in her hand and did not speak. Zhang Tao has a childish temperament, and asked again. Zhang Xing seemed to be reluctant, and whispered: "I, I don't like to eat." Xu was also choking on water, and her voice was hoarse and dry.

Zhang Tao was very surprised, there were still people who didn't like to eat leek eggs, she opened her eyes wide, and said, "Ah, I like to eat, if I have it every day, how good it would be." ”

Zhang Xing's action of poking the rice bowl was slightly sluggish. The sun rose high, shining through the gray pane, and a square shadow fell on the gray quilt surface, and there should be a tree outside the window, with branches and leaves, jumping in the shadow of the square, like a fantasy and a reality, looking up along the sun, the fine dust was flying, and they were all vigorous to the sun.

Zhang Xing's pale face was bathed in sunlight, coated with a layer of golden dazzling light, and a slight emotion appeared in his silent eyes.

Ye Hexiang shouted in the kitchen at this time: "Zhang Tao, Zhang Tao, don't come out to eat yet!" Zhang Tao came in response, and slipped out of the smoke.

The room was quiet, Zhang Xing lowered her head, and without saying a word, she picked up the brown rice in her hand little by little into her mouth.

After eating, Ye Hexiang went out with her son in her arms, Zhang Tao set up a small bench to wash dishes in the kitchen, Zhang Xing was still in bed, her body was already weak, and she drowned yesterday and it was not all good, and using half a bowl of brown rice hurt her spleen and stomach even more, and abdominal pain attacked. After struggling for a while, she felt that her abdomen began to fall, she supported herself, hurriedly went to the thatched house, and squatted until her legs and feet were weak, and then she emptied her stomach.

When I came out of the hut, my eyes were black for a while. She didn't dare to move any more, so she helped the door frame and sat down slowly. The sun was rising in the middle of the sky, white and dazzling, and a vague figure came from the light and shadow, shouting: "Xing'er, Xing'er, what's wrong with you?"

Zhang Xing was dizzy, cold sweat broke out, looking at the comer, he was speechless.

When the man saw her condition, he was shocked, and hurriedly picked her up, strode into the house, and put her on the bed in the room. Zhang Tao, who heard the noise in the kitchen, came over, and shouted happily when he saw the man: "Daddy......"

This person is Zhang Shuisheng, the head of the Zhang family, he got the news that his daughter fell into the water this morning, and after taking a boat, he hurried home, and he didn't expect to see his eldest daughter sitting on the threshold as soon as he came back, looking like he was about to fall to the ground. He put Zhang Xing on the bed, pulled the quilt and covered it, and then paid attention to his little daughter: "Tao'er, where is your mother?"

"My mother went to Aunt Niu's house next door. Zhang Tao said crisply.

When her daughter is sick, the mother is not good at taking care of her at home, and she is still visiting the door. Zhang Shuisheng had a fire in his belly and said to Zhang Tao, "Go and call your mother back." Zhang Tao went out and called her mother. Zhang Shuisheng looked at his eldest daughter's face carefully and asked, "Xing'er, are you better?"

Zhang Xing looked at him stunned, only shook his head, and did not speak.

Zhang Shuisheng knew that this daughter was extremely honest, and she didn't even want to say anything this time, she must be too weak. He is different from Ye Hexiang, although he also values his son, he is not bad for his two daughters. After folding the quilt, Zhang Shuisheng said softly to his daughter: "Xing'er, you lie down, Dad will ask a Lang Zhong to show you later." ”

Zhang Xing opened her mouth, and if she wanted to say something, before the words came out, she heard Ye Hexiang's voice speaking from the door, and she looked over. Ye Hexiang was carrying her son in, and she spoke: "Jinbao, your father is home." Let's see what good stuff he's brought back with him?"

Zhang Jinbao's saliva flowed out again, stretched out his hand to the house, and shouted, "Cake, I want to eat cake." Although the Zhang family is poor, Zhang Shuisheng is very good to several children, usually tired and tired to live in the Huai River, return home once in three or five days, and always give some snacks to his children in Quantang Town when he comes back. Zhang Jinbao is young, and his biggest impression of this father is that he has pastries to eat.

Zhang Shuisheng came out of the room with a calm face. Although Ye Hexiang is a lazy woman, she is very eye-catching, seeing that Zhang Shuisheng's face is not good, she hurriedly squatted down, put her son Zhang Jinbao on the ground, and said with a smile: "Jinbao, do you see your father? Go quickly, let your father go on a blind date." ”

Zhang Jinbao hurriedly walked over with his little short legs, pulled Zhang Shuisheng's pants, and shouted with his head raised: "Dad, I want to eat cakes, Jinbao wants to eat cakes." ”

Zhang Shuisheng saw that his baby son was drooling with his head held high and asking for something to eat, his mind changed direction, and the unhappiness in his heart couldn't help but go halfway. picked up his son, took out a paper bag from his arms, called the little daughter who cowered and came in from the door, handed her the paper bag, and asked the little daughter to take her son to the back room to eat and play.

Zhang Tao responded crisply, and took his younger brother's hand and happily went to the back room to share food. Zhang Shuisheng smiled and watched a pair of children go in, and as soon as he turned around, he saw Ye Hexiang coming out with a basin of water, and was greeting him: "Jinbao Dad, are you hungry? Wash your face, I'll give you a hot meal." ”

The unhappiness in Zhang Shuisheng's heart almost dissipated, and he washed his hands and face according to his words, Ye Hexiang was already busy in the kitchen. Zhang Shuisheng sat down at the table, watching Ye Hexiang busy, and at this time, it was difficult to speak, so he only asked, "Why did the eldest girl fall into the water yesterday?"

Ye Hexiang replied while hot dishes: "Who else could it be?" It is the grandson of Mrs. Hong's family, Shibei, who hid under the bridge pier in black and black, and jumped out when the big girl crossed the bridge, scaring people into the river. Oh, why is this baby so skinny? I don't know how his family taught it? I see, in our villages, if he recognizes the second, no one will recognize the first!"

Zhang Shuisheng frowned and said, "Okay, let's say a few words." "He and Li Dazhu have a small friendship. Li Dazhu's father went early, and his mother Li Hongshi single-handedly brought it up, and this Li Hong's ability is well-known far and wide. And Zhang Shuisheng's parents died early, he grew up eating hundreds of family meals, and when he was a child, he did not rub Li Dazhu's food, and he always respected Li Hong's family. Although Zhang Shuisheng felt sorry for his daughter, he thought in his heart that this was just a matter between the children, and it was too much to involve Li Hong's tutor.

Ye Hexiang just wanted to turn Zhang Shuisheng's mind elsewhere, but she didn't really complain about Li Dazhu's family, seeing Zhang Shuisheng say this, she didn't get angry, put the hot food on the table, and handed another bowl of rice to Zhang Shuisheng.

Zhang Shuisheng's eyes fell on the leek eggs on the table. Ye Hexiang hurriedly said: "This morning, Li Dazhu's family sent twenty eggs. I couldn't put it off, so I accepted it. The eldest girl is weak, so I fried two and made up for her. ”

Zhang Shuisheng nodded and said: "The eldest girl is indeed weaker, Fang Cai almost fell to the ground, please take a good look at Langzhong later, the baby is still young, and it is not good to fall into the root of the disease." As he spoke, he took out some money from his arms and handed it to Ye Hexiang, "I'm afraid this year's flood season is earlier than in previous years, the water has risen a lot in the past few days, and there are fewer people crossing the river. ”

Ye Hexiang hurriedly took it, counted the money carefully, counted it with Zhang Shuisheng, wrapped it in silk, put it in the jar under the bed in the room, and went back to the kitchen to talk to Zhang Shuisheng: "Are you still going to the dock today?"

"Go. Zhang Shuisheng said that he rushed back after hearing the news of his daughter falling into the water, Zhang's family has little land, and the family basically depends on his ferry to maintain, and he will not go when he is free.

"Then I'll pack some food for you to bring with you. Ye Hexiang said, washed a jar, and was busy scooping pickles out.

"Pack less, I'll be back in a few days." Zhang Shuisheng watched her work and said, "I just met the township, and said that I would go up to the embankment in a few days." ”

Lizhuang Village is on the edge of the Huai River, the terrain is low, the annual flood season is heavy rain and heavy flooding, light rain and small flooding has become a routine, every time at this time, the township will arrange the young and strong to patrol the embankment, but also fortunately there is a warning when the flood is heavy.

The people on the side of the Huai River lifted the water, and Ye Hexiang couldn't help but stop, and said: "Didn't the imperial court send Lord Qincha to build a new embankment last year?

Zhang Shuisheng's hand also stopped, and said, "Who can say for sure? A few days ago, I took a river worker who built a dam, and I am afraid that this dam will not be reliable. ”

Ye Hexiang's face turned a little paler, glanced out of the door, lowered his voice and said, "The big men of this court even dare to make rafts for the river dam that holds back the water? ”

"Hey, that's just that, don't panic, just take care of the child, if it is water, the township will naturally beat the gong, and then go to Yuxian. Zhang Shuisheng said.

Yuxian County has a high terrain, and in previous years, most of the people in Lizhuang went there, and the water receded and came back. Ye Hexiang is also a person who has experienced a lot of water, and she is not unfamiliar with Yuxian. Zhang Shuisheng's father and mother and Ye Hexiang's two brothers were not in the disaster year, and when it came to the matter of sending water, both of them had a heavy heart.

There was nothing to say for a while, Zhang Shuisheng only cared about the rice, Ye Hexiang burned half a jar of pickled vegetables with hot oil, and cleared a few pieces of Zhang Shuisheng's clothes that he was wearing at this time, and put a burden together. Zhang Shuisheng ate and went to the back room to see - Zhang Taozhang Jinbao was eating happily, Zhang Xing sat quietly and watched them, although the eldest daughter looked out of place with the other two children, but her face was much better than before.

Zhang Shuisheng was a little relieved, explained a few words repeatedly, picked up his bag and went to the town.

Ye Hexiang leaned against the door and watched him walk away, a black cloud floated over, just covering the sun, and the sky and earth were suddenly darkened. She looked up at the sky. At this moment, the sky in the north was already a black cloud, rolling and galloping, surging and raging.

Ye Hexiang's smiling face couldn't help but feel a little worried, the experience of the past disaster years came to mind, she was stunned for a while, the cheerful voices of the children in the house called her back, she remembered Zhang Shuisheng's explanation, so she closed the door, dragged out the money jar under the bed, counted a few, rubbed it for a long time, after all, she was reluctant, and put it back. Lang Zhong was not invited, but went to Ji Pozi's house in the village to talk - this is a goddess, who is used to doing some yin and yang things, and the money for inviting her to see a doctor is much less than that of inviting Lang Zhong.

As soon as it was dark that night, Mrs. Ji came over and asked Ye Hexiang to set up an incense case in the hall. Mrs. Ji lit incense and burned paper money, muttered some words, and soon twitched, and it didn't take long for Mrs. Ji's face to change, as if she was a different person, she looked around the room, her eyes fell on Zhang Xing in the corner, she was shocked, and shouted: "Who is the demon?